According to the holiday travel forecast, which surveys Finns’ travel plans, 2019 was a busy travel year for Finns. On average, Finns made four trips in Finland and three trips abroad in 2019.
In 2020, Finns are planning trips to destinations in Finland, as well as in Sweden, Estonia and Southern Europe. Beach holidays are becoming more popular than before, city holidays abroad retain their popularity, and city destinations in Finland are attracting interest, too. This year, people intend to spend more money on travel than previously. Matka Nordic Travel Fair 2020 will be open to the public at Messukeskus in Helsinki from 17 to 19 January 2020.
According to the holiday travel forecast, which surveys Finns’ travel plans, 2019 was a busy travel year for Finns. On average, Finns made four trips in Finland and three trips abroad in 2019.
“Domestic travel increased somewhat during 2019, and there seems to be a continuing interest in domestic travel, especially in city destinations. Finns also feel the pull of destinations abroad, as only 6 per cent of the respondents said that they would not travel abroad in 2020”, says, Anne Lahtinen, research manager at Kantar.
More than half of the respondents said that they intend to visit city destinations abroad. The trip is likely to be made to a destination in Southern Europe, where 30% of the respondents plan to travel, or to Estonia, which is favoured by 25% of the respondents. In the year 2020, in addition to cities, people will travel abroad for beach holidays and far-off destinations.
“The changeable summer weather and the long and rainy autumn in Finland in 2019 probably at least partly explain why as many as 44% of the survey respondents are planning a beach holiday abroad. Compared to last year, there are more Finns with a yearning for sunshine and warm weather who are setting their sights on far-off destinations”, says Heli Maki-Franti, managing director at the Association of Finnish Travel Agents, AFTA.
In contrast to long-haul travel, more and more Finns find holidaying in Finland in their own or rented holiday home attractive.
More money will be spent on travel in 2020
One in three respondents is planning to spend more money on travel in 2020 than in the previous year. More than half will spend at least as much money on trips as in 2019. In the past year, money was spent especially on accommodation in Finland, as well as on flying and travelling by train.
“When asked where they would travel if money was no object, the vast majority of the respondents said they would head to Australia, Japan, the United States, the Maldives or New Zealand. In Europe, the top two dream destinations are Italy and Iceland. It will be interesting to see where Finns will direct their increased travel spending. Will there be an increase in the popularity of destinations in Finland and the surrounding region, or will Finns fulfil their dreams of travelling to far-off destinations?”, says Anne Lahtinen, research manager at Kantar.
Experts trusted when booking trips
When booking a holiday trip, Finns increasingly rely on travel service providers and travel agencies. Some 68% book their trips through the websites of airlines, ship companies, railway companies, bus companies or other travel service providers, while 44% use the websites of travel agencies to book their trips. Most accommodation is booked through sales or comparison shopping websites for hotels and other travel services, or, increasingly, directly from hotel websites.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
